Ashley Graham Now One Of The World's Highest-Paid Models

Ashley Graham is no stranger to breaking barriers and now she can add another one to her list: The 30-year-old debuts on Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid models this year, making her the first curve model to earn a spot on the ranking.

“It is not about who has the highest cheekbones anymore. It is really about how to be a boss, a brand and a businesswoman," she told Forbes in 2016. To that end, Graham didn't rely solely on modeling to bank $5.5 million this year, making her the 10th highest-paid model. She boasts her own lines with Additional Elle, Dressbarn and Swimsuits For All.

They're designed with the size of the average American woman (which is 16) in mind, a huge market often-overlooked by the fashion industry. Sales of the women's plus-size apparel market in the United States totaled $21.4 billion last year, according to market research firm NDP Group.

But with the rise--and success--of models like Graham, women of all shapes and sizes are starting to get their due in an industry long-focused on just one type of look. In 2016, Graham made history as the first size 14 model to ever be featured on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Vogue.

"I have a body that the average-size American woman has. And I'm using it to let other women know that you are beautiful," Graham told Forbes when she landed on the 30 Under 30 list in 2016.

Watch below on Forbes: A Cover Girl With Curves

Graham's almost 20-year modeling career wasn't always full of such highs though. After modeling for a decade, Graham's agency dropped its entire plus-size division. But instead of that being the end of her, Graham reevaluated how to make it in the industry. “I realized that a pretty face will open doors, but it takes a business-savvy woman to achieve longevity,” she said at the fourth annual Forbes Women’s Summit.

Currently covering real estate, retail and food. I was previously the assistant online editor for Forbes Asia and Forbes Opinion channel. Prior to Forbes, I was a Robert L. Bartley Fellow at the Wall Street Journal. I graduated from New York University.